Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative
Federal and state regulations require that students with disabilities are educated with children without disabilities in the least restrictive environment (LRE) to the maximum extent appropriate. According to Virginia's 2020-2021 Special Education Annual Performance Report to the Public, approximately 72 percent of students with disabilities spend 80 percent or more of the day in the general education classroom. Co-teaching is reported to be the most frequently used service delivery model in which general and special educators share responsibility for assessing student needs in light of curriculum demands, then share planning and delivery of instruction to all students within the general education classroom using a variety of instructional arrangements. Co-teaching has proven to be effective in promoting inclusive education and providing access to the general curriculum for students with disabilities in the LRE.
In support of Virginia's Statewide Inclusion Action Plan and in an effort to promote and improve the implementation of co-teaching throughout Virginia, the VDOE began the Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative. Through this initiative, demonstration sites across the Commonwealth provide opportunities for co-teaching teams and school/district administrators to observe high-quality co-taught instruction in inclusive settings. Visitors have the opportunity to observe model lessons, followed by scheduled time to engage in discussion with the site’s co-teaching team and school administrator regarding implementation practices, instructional planning, and factors that support successful co-teaching partnerships.
Demonstration Site Visitations
To request a visit to a demonstration site, please complete the following form:
Demonstration Site Visitation Request Form
A representative from your regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) will follow up to coordinate and schedule your visit. Alternatively, you can request a visitation by contacting your local TTAC or the school-based team you wish to visit.
Following a demonstration site visitation, please complete the following forms:
Observing Co-Teachers' Feedback
Observing Administrators' Feedback
Following a demonstration site visitation, please complete the following forms:
Observing Co-Teachers' Feedback
Observing Administrators' Feedback
Region 1
TTAC Facilitator(s):
- Mary Addeo - mjaddeo@vcu.edu
- Shahida Persad – persadsm@vcu.edu
Prince George County – David A. Harrison Elementary School (Grade 2)
Teachers:- Jessica Alderman - jalderman@pgs.k12.va.us
- Candace Adair - cadair@pgs.k12.va.us
- Christopher Scruggs - cscruggs@pgs.k12.va.us
Richmond City – Albert Hill Middle School (Math)
Teachers:- Diamond Scott - dscott4@rvaschools.net
- Jenna Ross - jbarker@rvaschools.net
- Tashiana Ivy - tmayo@rvaschools.net
Region 2
TTAC Facilitator(s):
- Danielle Sentz - dsentz@odu.edu
- Crystal Pope – cmpope@odu.edu
Newport News – Woodside High School (English 11)
Teachers:- Alexander Riccio - alexander.riccio@nn.k12.va.us
- Courtney Privette - courtney.privette@nn.k12.va.us
- Mary Hardesty - mary.hardesty@nn.k12.va.us
Region 3
TTAC Facilitator(s):
- Shelley Littleton - sblittleton@wm.edu
- Jason Betzner - jpbetzner@wm.edu
- Alexis Swanson – ahswan@wm.edu
King and Queen County – King and Queen Elementary School (Grade 5 Math)
Teachers:- Rachelle Pohlman - rpohlman@kqps.net
- Kelly Harvey - kharvey@kqps.net
- Mack Harvey - mharvey@kqps.net
Middlesex County – St. Clare Walker Middle School (Math 8)
Teachers:- Kate Messner - kmessner@mcps.k12.va.us
- Bailey Hooper - bhooper@mcps.k12.va.us
- Dr. Elizabeth Sanders - esanders@mcps.k12.va.us
Region 4
TTAC Facilitator(s):
- Melissa Gunter - mgunter2@gmu.edu
Culpeper County – Emerald Hill Elementary School (Grade 4)
Teachers:- Aimee Morehead - amorehead@ccpsweb.org
- Kimberly Moon - km9767@culpeperschools.org
- Tori Gelbert - vg5933@ccpsweb.org
Region 5
TTAC Facilitator(s):
- Jillian Shifflett - shiffljm@jmu.edu
- Jarrod Hobson – hobsonjd@jmu.edu
Rockingham County – Wilbur S. Pence Middle School (Math 7)
Teachers:- Monica Johnson - mjohnson01@rockingham.k12.va.us
- Nicole Meredith - nmeredith@rockingham.k12.va.us
- Teresa Shank - tshank@rockingham.k12.va.us
Waynesboro – Wenonah Elementary (Grade 3 Reading & Math)
Teachers:- Nicole Mickens - nmickens@waynesboro.k12.va.us
- Taylor Rose - trose@waynesboro.k12.va.us
- Abby Aery - aarey@waynesboro.k12.va.us
Region 6 & 7
TTAC Facilitator(s):
- Suzanne Graham - s-graham@radford.edu
- Kitty Wade - kittywms@vt.edu
- Sue Schulz – suschulz@vt.edu
Roanoke County – Northside Middle (Math 8)
Teachers:- Amber Benson - abenson@rcps.us
- Ruby Voss - rvoss@rcps.us
- Dr. Paul Lineburg - plineburg@rcs.k12.va.us
Giles County – Giles High (Algebra 1)
Teachers:- Katherine Wright - kwright@gilesk12.net
- Mandy Seeberger - mseeberger@gilesk12.net
- Shelley Boggess - sboggess@gilesk12.net
Region 8
TTAC Facilitator(s):
- Leslie Murphy-Brown - lmmurphybrown@vcu.edu
Buckingham County – Buckingham County Middle School (English 8)
Teachers:- Shawn Stinson - sstinson@bcpschools.org
- Lynn Scruggs - lscruggs@bcpschools.org
- Dr. Jeffrey Garrett - jgarrett@bcpschools.org
*Contact your regional TTAC for individualized co-teaching assistance.